Economy
FG Saves N6trn in Fuel Subsidy Payments in 2025—NMDPRA Chief
By Adedapo Adesanya
The chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Saidu Mohammed, has revealed that bold economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration saved the country over N6 trillion on petroleum product imports in just the first nine months of 2025.
Mr Mohammed disclosed this while speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, said the savings were the result of full downstream deregulation, harmonisation of the forex market, and the trading of crude and petroleum products in Naira.
He added that these bold moves have created stability in the downstream petroleum market, encouraged investment, and ensured a sufficient supply of petroleum products across the country.
The NMDPRA boss also revealed that the nation’s refining capacity is expected to surpass 1 million barrels per stream day (bpsd) in the medium term.
He said the surge in domestic refining capacity is being driven by a combination of new refinery investments, the rehabilitation of existing Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited refineries, and strategic private-sector participation.
According to him, the planned investments in other refineries, along with issued Licences to Establish (LTEs) for new facilities, will continue to expand Nigeria’s refining footprint, reducing dependence on imported products and stabilising domestic supply.
He said: “For decades, our downstream value chain has been associated with negative sectoral performance indicators such as infrastructural deficit, weak market structures, sub-optimal supply chain efficiency, inadequate investment, poor regulatory compliance, and unacceptable operational safety and environmental indices.
“Today, I am pleased to affirm that this narrative is rapidly changing and that the sector is truly witnessing the early but irreversible signs of a renaissance-type transformation that is driven by bold reform; enabled by investment; and sustained by effective market and operational regulatory enablement.
“In the few years of the operationalisation of the new legal framework of the Oil and Gas sector in Nigeria (PIA 2021), Nigeria’s downstream sector has evolved into a fully liberalised market and is no longer defined by scarcity and supply uncertainty.
Supply stability has consistently ensured sufficiency of all Petroleum products. The pricing structure of the downstream sector is becoming more driven by the fundamentals of the market and generally attaining the stability level required for encouraging investment in this expansive sector of the economy.
“The supply chain landscape of the sector, which depended significantly on import of nearly all Petroleum Products for a long time, is rapidly transforming with growing supply through the nation’s domestic refining capacity, expanding gas-based alternative fuels, improved logistics, and increased private-sector participation.
“At the heart of this transformation stands the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the largest single-train refinery in the world with an installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd), which is currently contributing a significant portion and in some cases 100 per cent of our domestic requirement of Petroleum Products. The optimal operationalisation of the plant’s installed capacity and future upscaling of the plant is undoubtedly needed to fulfil the national aspirations of making Nigeria a regional and continental energy hub.
“The capacity for enhanced domestic supply of Petroleum product in Nigeria will continue to grow as the planned investments in our refinery sector mature. We are optimistic that the issued Licences to Establish (LTEs) refineries, which are being progressed through various levels of completion, coupled with the rehabilitation of the NNPCL refineries, will improve the overall installed refining capacity in Nigeria to well over 1 million bpsd in the medium term.
“The bold economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu have created the renaissance that the downstream sector is enjoying and would continue to leverage upon for sustained sectoral growth in the future. The cumulative impact of the full deregulation of the downstream sector, the harmonisation of the forex market, the incentivization and deepening the use of gas and the trading of crude and product in Naira has reduced the fiscal economic losses of importing Petroleum Product by over N6 trillion in the 1st nine months of 2025.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Oil was up more than 3 per cent on Tuesday as renewed Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) heightened concerns about the worsening outlook for global supply.
Brent crude futures appreciated by $3.21 or 3.2 per cent to $103.42 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $2.71 or 2.9 per cent to trade at $96.21 per barrel.
Prices had fallen previously after some vessels sailed through the critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital gateway for about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade
The Iran war shows no signs of abating as it renewed attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday, causing oil loading at the port of Fujairah to be at least partly halted after the third attack in four days ignited a fire at the export terminal.
Fujairah, located on the Gulf of Oman just outside the Strait of Hormuz, is a critical exit point for oil volumes equivalent to roughly 1 per cent of global demand.
The attacks on oil installations by Iran and the ongoing disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have traders worried for long-term impairment to supply that could keep prices elevated.
The effective closure of the strait has forced the UAE, which is the third-largest producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), to reduce its output by more than half.
Several allies of the US rebuffed President Donald Trump’s call on Monday to send warships to escort shipping through the strait.
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would never take part in operations to unblock the strait, and would only participate in a coalition that could provide freedom of navigation once hostilities ended.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration reiterated its position that they see the Iran conflict lasting weeks, not months.
The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Mr Fatih Birol, has suggested member countries could release more oil, in addition to the 400 million barrels they have already agreed to draw from strategic reserves.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A 10 per cent equity stake has been acquired by Odu’a Investment Company Limited in a subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc, FCMB Pensions Limited.
The move is aimed at strengthening its presence in Nigeria’s growing pension industry.
The company disclosed that the transaction was completed after receiving all required regulatory approvals from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also been duly notified.
Odu’a Investment said the acquisition represents a strategic investment in a resilient and steadily expanding segment of Nigeria’s financial services sector.
The company added that the deal also reinforces FCMB Pensions’ shareholder base through the entry of a long-term institutional investor.
Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Bimbo Ashiru, said the investment aligns with the organisation’s strategy of partnering with strong institutions operating in sectors critical to Nigeria’s long-term economic stability.
“This investment reflects Odu’a’s strategy of partnering with strong institutions operating in sectors that are central to Nigeria’s long-term economic stability and growth,” he said in a statement.
“The pension industry plays a critical role in mobilising long-term savings and strengthening the financial system. FCMB Pensions has built a solid platform serving contributors across Nigeria, and we see a significant opportunity to support its continued growth and impact,” he added.
Also commenting on the transaction, the Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa, described the deal as a vote of confidence in FCMB Pensions’ leadership and long-term prospects.
“Our partnership with FCMB Group Plc reflects confidence in FCMB Pensions’ strategy, leadership, and long-term potential. Together, we will work to expand its reach, support its strategic objectives, and deliver sustained value to contributors and other stakeholders,” Mr Yinusa said.
The investment brings together two established institutions with complementary strengths and a shared focus on long-term value creation. According to the company, the partnership positions FCMB Pensions to deepen market penetration and enhance service delivery within Nigeria’s contributory pension scheme.
Odu’a Investment Company Limited is an investment holding company jointly owned by the governments of the six South-West states of Nigeria.
The firm manages a diversified portfolio spanning real estate, financial services, hospitality, agriculture, and industrial investments, with a mandate to generate sustainable economic value and support regional development.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc, Mr Temi Popoola, has said Nigeria’s capital market is undergoing a re-rating as global investors begin to reassess the country’s economic trajectory and investment potential.
“What we are seeing is a gradual re-rating of Nigeria. investors are beginning to look at the data more closely, the returns, the reforms, and the improving macroeconomic direction, and that is changing sentiment,” he said during a live interview on BBC Newsday in London.
He is in the United Kingdom as part of broader investor and stakeholder engagements during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Buckingham Palace.
Mr Popoola explained that Nigeria’s equity market has delivered strong returns in recent months, positioning it more competitively among emerging and frontier markets. According to him, this performance is helping to recalibrate long-held risk perceptions and attract renewed interest from international investors.
He added that improvements in Nigeria’s energy landscape, including increased domestic refining capacity and ongoing sector reforms, are helping to reduce the economy’s exposure to external oil price shocks, further strengthening investor confidence.
Mr Popoola emphasised that beyond short-term market movements, consistency in policy implementation will be critical in sustaining this shift in perception. “Global capital responds to clarity and consistency. As those elements become more evident, Nigeria naturally becomes more investable.”
He also highlighted the importance of sustained engagement with global financial centres, noting that platforms such as London play a key role in connecting Nigeria’s capital market to international pools of capital.
According to him, Nigeria’s evolving market structure, combined with ongoing reforms, is strengthening its position as a viable destination for long-term investment. “There is a broader recognition that Nigeria offers significant opportunities. The focus now is ensuring that this recognition translates into sustained capital flows.”
The NGX group chief concluded that Nigeria’s capital market is increasingly being viewed through a more balanced and data-driven lens, reflecting both its resilience and its long-term growth potential.
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